Police Briefs for May 30, 2008

Friday

May 30, 2008 at 12:22 AMMay 30, 2008 at 6:19 AM

OCALA
Police hold breakfast to publicize trust fund
Officials with the Marion County Public Safety Assistance Trust hosted a breakfast Thursday at the Ocala Police Department Community Room to let the public and business community know about the program, which is aimed at financially assisting public safety officials who experience difficult times.
Saying the project is "near and dear to my heart," Ocala Police Chief Sam Williams, one of the architects of the idea, talked about the need for and use of PSAT.
Sgt. Dave Parkins, president of PSAT, said the immediate goals are to reach out to the public and the private sector to attract individual memberships. Parkins said they also will be hosting fundraisers for the not-for-profit charitable program.
"It's a great opportunity for the community to give back to our public servants," said Cherie Litz, whose husband, Marion County sheriff's Deputy Brian Litz, was killed in the line of duty in 2004.
For information about PSAT, visit Web site www.mcpsat.org or call Lt. Greg Stewart at 427-6763 or Sgt. Dave Parkins at 427-2702.
REDDICK
Man caught in explosion drives to fire station
A man believed to be in his 40s suffered second-degree burns on his face, chest and head Thursday morning while working on a vehicle.
Marion County Fire Rescue spokeswoman Heather Danenhower said the man was at another person's home at 3923 N.W. 125th Lane at about 9:15 a.m. attempting to install a fuel pump. When he was removing the gas tank, she said, it exploded.
The victim suffered second-degree burns on 15 percent of his body.
Danenhower said officials speculate the explosion may have started from an electrical spark or cigarettes. Cigarette butts were found near the site of the accident. After the blast, the man got into his vehicle and drove to Fire Rescue Station No. 11 at 11250 N.W. Gainesville Road to seek medical assistance.
Fire Rescue paramedics treated him at the station, and he was flown by helicopter to Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Danenhower urged people in similar situations to call 911 and let first responders go to the scene.
OCALA NATIONAL FOREST
Forest burnout may produce smoke in area
Firefighters in the Ocala National Forest conducted a burnout operation Wednesday night in the Alexander Springs Wilderness Area. It was done to secure a portion of the Tracy Fire that started May 21 near Forest Road 6 (old Forest Road 539).
In a news release issued Thursday, Heather Callahan, a public information specialist with the Forest Service, stated, "Winds today are from the northeast and smoke can be seen around the Ocala National Forest and the surrounding areas. It is likely that we will also see smoke tomorrow morning."
The firefighters originally planned to conduct the burnout Thursday, but according to Callahan, didn't want the fire to move.
"Higher humidities and favorable winds contributed to a successful burnout operation. We burned out approximately 150 acres, bringing the total to approximately 1,200 acres," she said in the news release.
Residents and motorists in the vicinity are reminded to drive slowly and with lights on in areas where smoke may be evident.
OCALA
Slain cyclist's name released by officials
The identity of a motorcyclist killed Wednesday night when his bike collided with a dump truck has been released.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Richard A. Flatt, 35, of Ocala, was killed in the crash at about 9:20 p.m. on State Road 200 near Southwest 95th Street Road. He was not wearing a helmet.
The 2007 Yamaha motorcycle was traveling in the middle eastbound lane of SR 200 and rear-ended a 2004 Mack dump truck. Flatt was thrown from the bike, according to an FHP report.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. His death was the 45th fatality on Marion County roads this year.
OCALA
Woman sustains injuries in motorcycle crash
A 45-year-old Ocala woman suffered life-threatening head injuries Thursday afternoon when the motorcycle she was riding slammed into a car that was making a turn on East Silver Springs Boulevard shortly after 5 p.m., according to Ocala police.
Mary Kelly was taken to Shands at the University of Florida. A passer-by gave her CPR. Kelly was not wearing a helmet. The accident occurred when Kelly was heading west on a 2005 Harley Davidson. An older model Oldsmobile driven by William H. Jago, 79, was heading east in the 1700 block of East Silver Springs Boulevard.
The car was making a left turn into the Ocala Shopping Plaza when the motorcycle collided with the rear passenger door of his car, police said.

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